David: The Authority Gap
2/16/2025
Have you ever been there? Standing in a gap created by a lack of leadership? The person in charge is unavailable or unwilling to lead, and suddenly, all eyes are on you. The world needs people who understand how to lead even when they’re not in charge. Fortunately, the Bible offers a great example in King David. Long before he became king, he was just a shepherd boy who demonstrated how to lead when you’re not in charge. Join us for part two of Leading from the Gap, where we will discover that leading when you’re not in charge requires humility, faith, and meekness.
Passages
##Humility## in the Gap (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
##Faith## in the Gap (1 Samuel 17)
##Meekness## in the Gap (1 Samuel 24)
Principle
Leading when you’re not in charge requires ##humility##, ##faith##, and ##meekness##.
Practice
Identify a situation in which you are not in charge but where God may be calling you to lead.
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.
HANGOUT
Have you ever had to lead when you were not in charge? What did you learn from that experience?
HEAR
Read 1 Samuel 17:1-23
- Why were Saul and the Israelites “greatly afraid”?
- Read 1 Samuel 9:1-2, describing Saul's selection to become king. Based on this verse, who should have fought Goliath? Why didn’t he do it? How did Saul’s failure to lead affect his people?
- Have you been in a situation where the person who should have led refused to do so? What happened?
Read 1 Samuel 17:24-40
- What stands out to you in this passage?
- Was David acting out of youthful bravado or faith? How do you know?
- Why did David refuse to wear Saul’s armor? What does that decision suggest about leading when we aren’t in charge?
Read 1 Samuel 17:41-58
- What does David’s speech to Goliath tell us about David’s faith?
- Are you facing a Goliath? How might you paraphrase David’s speech as a declaration of faith in the face of that situation?
- What were the consequences of David standing in the gap against Goliath?
HUDDLE
Are you currently facing a situation that will require you to lead even though you are not in charge? How can you respond to that situation using the example of David? How would Jesus lead in that situation? Talk about it, invite accountability, and pray together.
Daily Reading
As you read each passage, look for connections to this week’s sermon and small group discussion. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Day 1: 1 Samuel 16
- Day 2: 1 Samuel 17
- Day 3: 1 Samuel 18
- Day 4: 1 Samuel 19
- Day 5: 1 Samuel 24
- Day 6: 1 Samuel 26
- Day 7: Psalm 59
Passage to Memorize: 1 Samuel 17:7
Think Deeper
- When do you feel most forgotten or overlooked? Does God see you there?
- What giants are you facing? What has God placed in your hands?
- Who has best exemplified meekness to you? What can you learn from their example?
Suggested Reading
The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day, by John Maxwell
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell
How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, by Clay Scroggins
Check out these and other books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB.